Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
y increases as x increases
straight line through the origin, if x is doubled then y is doubled, direct proportionality
y decreases as x increases
x times y = k, inversely proportionality. Inverse proportionality is generally not properly
understood
7. A graph is the best way to display the results of an experiment.
8. Students should understand the idea of a fair test or comparison in which only one variable is
altered at a time, eg when investigating how rate of cooling experiment depends on temperature
room to be kept constant--room draughts, volume and type of liquid, amount of stirring.
9. Students should be trained to give a conclusion to an experiment.
10. Good procedures:
avoid making parallax errors, {the line of sight should be perpendicular to the reading on the
scale}
notice the unit in which the scale is calibrated - always give the unit of any measurement
notice the maximum reading that can be obtained
notice the smallest change in value that can be obtained
aim to use quantities that have magnitudes that are towards the upper values of the scale
when using marker pins space the pins so that they are at least 60 mm apart
ensure that the pins are vertical
draw neat thin lines
use the largest angles available and draw the arms of the angle longer than the radius of
any protractor being used, ie a large radius is desirable
in heat experiments
in electrical experiments
choose volume/mass values of the quantities that give large changes in the temperature
insulate the container, cover the container
stir and wait for highest temperature after stopping heating
a stopwatch can measure to about 0.1 s, although it may give a reading to 0.01 s
for oscillations (of a pendulum or vibrating rule), be able to define a complete oscillation
time N oscillations, usually N>10 and use the terminology periodic time T = t/N
explain how to use a fiducial aid at the centre of the oscillation
explain where the eye should be placed to avoid parallax errors